‘Nigerian writing has long come of age’

For 10 years now, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has been giving $100,000 to the best Nigerian writer yearly. It is the highest Literature prize in the country. It also sponsors of the CORA book party, which brings together the shortlisted authors and book lovers. Why does the company promote creative writing? In this exclusive interview with Evelyn Osagie, the NLNG General Manager, External Affairs, Mr Kudo Eresia-Eke, a poet, says literature is the soul of life as it excites the reading culture.

what is your opinion on the state of the creative writing in the country?

The Nigerian writing has long come of age. No matter how you look at it, when you talk literature on the world scene, Nigeria is present. And now we are blossoming and expanding. The quality and the quantity are increasing. If you look at the breadth of experiences that we are sharing today, it is far much more than what we used to know. We have indigenous, those in the Diaspora and we have the mix. Different kinds of cultures come into play and people are experimenting. And we see the spectrum of those, who were shortlisted recently. From the list of hundreds that participated only 11 were shortlisted. Their ages (17 and above), their educational background (there is a professor), give you an idea of the breadth. Young people are getting into the spree, as young as 17, that gives you an idea of how much impact is being made. It is getting to the grassroots and that is great to know.

As a businessman, do you think literature has the economic potential worth investing in?

The truth is our interest in literature is not so much for the business side. There would be those, who would reap from it. Publishers, promoters and writers may reap from it, but our interest is in promoting literature purely as literature; promoting the reading culture because when we excite literature, it would excite enough quality that people would be attracted to. And this would influence more people to get involve; it would also influence more readers, the growth of our nation and excellence. And we never know where it would lead to because once you light a candle; you’d never know how many other candles that candle would ignite.

Ten years on, how has the journey been so far in sponsoring the Literature Prize?

It has been fulfilling for the company. To have initiated a Nigeria Prize for Literature, which in such a short span has assumed a continental and possible world stature, attracting response and support from across the spectrum of writers and lovers of literature worldwide. The Prize was instituted for the benefit of Nigeria, and so we are happy that Nigeria is reaping the benefits, as you can see from the value and volume of literature inspired, the enthusiasm and energy of book lovers/affiliated workers generated, and the excitement of the reading culture in our land.

Were there challenges encountered during the period?

Nothing prospers without challenges, so for the Prize to acquire the level of reputation and respect it enjoys today, we had to painstaking work at the challenges not as stumbling blocks, but as climbing blocks. There have been quite a few of those challenges, which nevertheless have helped the Prize to be better honed for greater acceptability and worthiness. Of course, not much would have been achieved without the huge support enjoyed from the Advisory Board, the judges, the writers and the media that have worked with us all the way.

Supporting Literature over the years, what does NLNG stand to benefit from this venture?

That’s a very good question because sometimes when you look at it, it seems there is a disconnect between a gas company, a technology-based company, supporting literature. But this is where we link up. The vision of the Nigerian LNG is to be a global company helping to build a better Nigeria. Now, no nation can be built in darkness, the writers bring light and enlightenment, they bring intelligence, they excite the reading culture. Technology cannot improve if people don’t read. So, it instigates reading – they make us read, learn and make us students…excited pupils who want to know things about the world. That is where they come in. So they are a fundamental pillar for nation-building, fundamental pillar for improving and making Nigeria better – that is why we doff our hats for the writers.

So, you belong to the school of thought that says there exists a more profound connection between literature and science?

Yes. The basis of science is literature, because except you learn to read and write, you can’t express yourself in science. Notice that a lot of the science writers are originally from the literary background; that is the only way they can express complex ideas in simple terms that children can understand and that people can appreciate. So, writing is also part of science.

What informed NLNG decision to extend the prize to Nigerians in the Diaspora?

Nigerians are fundamentally very determined people and we love competition. And the more we compete, the better we get. A Nigerian is a Nigerian no matter the part of the world, he or she lives. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the moon, if you are a Nigerian please get on it. And we believe Nigerians can compete with those from any part of the world.

What stands the Prize out from others in the country?

I think the support it enjoys – from a whole spectrum of society. It enjoys support from the media, the arts, the academia, local and international audience. It stands very high when you look at the quality of judges and members of the advisory board. It is eminent and loved. There is a good reason behind it.